Automatic temperature indicating system



July 28, 1953 R. G. WALToN 2,646,681

AuToMATTc TEMPERATURE INDTCATTNG SYSTEM l inver-wor :Richard G .WaH'on H' ++orn eLi July 28, 1953 R. G, WALTON 2,646,681

AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE INDICATING SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mven'or': Richard @.WalJror-z Bq WWOLW' H Morneg Patented July 28, 1953 AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE INDICATING SYSTEM Richard G. Walton, Houston, Tex., assignor to Shell Development Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application April 18, 1950, Serial No. 156,589

This invention relates to the control of temperature within a reaction vessel and pertains more particularly t0 a method and apparatus for automatically determining and controlling the temperature of a shifting reaction zone within a closed reaction or regeneration vessel.

For example, in the regeneration of a lixed bed of catalyst, and in many exothermic chemical reactions carried out in a catalyst-lled vessel, the reaction generally takes place at a high temperature in a relatively small zone, or portion thereof, of the catalyst bed, said reaction Zone being transient in nature. Thus, for example, when a contaminated bed of catalyst in a vessel is regenerated by owing air into the top of the vessel and withdrawing gases from the bottom thereof, the hot spot or ame front within the vessel is rst located at the top of the catalyst. bed and later moved slowly downward through the rbed as the upper portion of the bed becomes puriiied or regenerated. Y

It is essential that the highest temperature within a catalyst regeneration vessel be determined and controlled in order to obviate the deleterious effect that excessively high temperatures have on certain catalysts. For example, excessive heat may causes certain impurities present in the catalyst bed to become fused and coatk the catalyst particles so as to reduce the eiective contact area of each particle by as muchas 80 per cent.

At present, the movement of a flame front within a iixed catalyst bed may be followed by employing a number of stationary thermocouples inserted at various levels in the bed This method is generally impractical because, when the flame front is sharply dened, ity or more closely spaced thermocouples may be required to, follow a regeneration reaction with adequate precision.

In the regeneration of catalyst in experimental scale units movement of the flame front is normally followed by manually varying the position of a. thermocouple. This method of trial and error probing to locate the moving hotspot is also impractical as it requires the continuous atten.- tion of an operator for periods as long as sixteen hours.

It is therefore a primary obj-ect ofthe present invention to provide a method and apparatus for automatically determining and indicating the position of a shifting zone of maximum temperature withina reaction vessel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for maintaining the optimum temperature of a shifting reaction 3 Claims. (Cl. 7S-341) f3 il zone within Va reaction vessel at a constant predetermined value.

A further object of this invention is to provide a temperature-sensing device adapted to follow automatically a shifting zone of maximum reaction temperature of any non-isothermal, fixedbed catalytic process, or any other process or system involving a temperature gradient wherein the maximum temperature is the important factor.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for automatically controllingthe addition of one temperature-modifying material to a shifting reaction zone whereby the optimum ternperature of said reaction may be maintained at a constant value.

Additional objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an automatically movable temperature-sensingv and' indicating system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View of the present maximum-temperature sensing device mounted in a reaction vessel, along with related auxiliary equipment for controlling an inlet now stream to said vessel.

Figure 3 is another embodiment of reversible prime mover means for positoning the present temperature-sensing device within a reaction vessel. It is understood that thisv arrangement could be used with the reversible prime mover either above or beneath the reactor or with the reactor horizontal or at any other angle.

Figure 4 is another embodiment of the present maximum-temperature sensing device mounted for movement in three planes within a reaction vessel.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are three embodiments of thermocouple groupings adapted for movement in one, twoand three-dimensional systems, respectively.

Referring to Figures 1 and 6 of the drawing, the present apparatus comprises three temperature sensing elements l, I2 and [3 fixedly mounted in approximately equally spaced rectilinear relationship to each other on a suitable carrier or housing Ill. The housing or block d may be of any shape or size, such, for example, as a rectangular block or a cylindrical or tubular member, but is preferably of'a size adapted to pass through a thermocouple well 3Q of Figure 2.

In the following description, the sensing elements II, I2 and I3 are referred to as thermocouples. It is understood, however, that the principle of the present invention is also applicable to the use of resistance thermometers, radiation pyrometers and similar types of temperature measuring devices.

The outer or terminal thermocouples I I and I 3 are connected in series opposition by lead I5 so as to respond to temperature differentials. Leads I6 and II in turn connect the thermocouples II and I3 to a converter and amplifier unit I8, for example, such as is used in a Brown Instrument Company electronic continuous balance potentiometer (described in their Bulletin No. B-10).

The converter and amplifier unit I8 is connected to a source of alternating current by leads I9 and having a main switch 2| therein. The converter-amplier I8 is connected to a reversible motor 22 by leads 23, 24, 25 and 25 and is grounded at 21, the motor being grounded at 2B.

The shaft 29 of the motor 22 is operatively connected to the thermocouple base I4 by suitable mechanical linkage means whereby the thermocouples II, I2 and I3 may be raised and lowered in a thermocouple well as will be described hereinbelow. In Figure l, the mechanical linkage means between the motor 22 and therrnocounle base I4 comprise a worm 3| mounted on the motor shaft 29 and cooperating with a worm gear 32 which actuates an arm. rod or cable (recresented by broken line 33) secured to the base I4.

The center or measuring thermocouple I2 is preferably mounted substantially equidistant between the end or positioning thermocouples I! and I3 for detecting the temperature at that point. However, the three thermocouoles need not be necessarily equidistant. In fact, in some special cases, if the temperature profile is not "symmetricaP near the peak, an irregular spacing of the three thermocouples may be necessary if the center couple must be placed very precisely at the peak. This center thermocouple I2 is electrically connected, through leads 34 and 35, to a temperature recorder 35 or to a recorder-controller that furnishes an electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical output signal in response to the input voltage from the temperature indicating thermocouple I2. This output signal may be transmitted through a suitable conduit 3'! to regulate a valve, motor, heater or any other means used for controlling a reaction.

, In Figure 2, the present device is illustrated as being mounted on the top of a verticallypositioned cylindrical reaction vessel 38 which is closed at both ends. The vessel 38 is equipped with inlet conduit means 39, having a motorcontrolled or pressure-operated valve 4U therein, and with outlet ow means 4I. Positioned within the vessel 38, and extending substantially the length thereof, is a thermocouple well 39 of suitable design. Depending upon the type -of reaction taking place within the vessel, the well 35 may be of huid-tight construction in one instance, of perforate construction in another, and may be dispensed with entirely under certain circumstances.

The thermocouple block I4 is slidably mounted within the well 30 at the end of an electrical cable 42 containing leads I6, I1, 34 and 35. The electrical signal from the positioning thermocouples I I and I3 may be transferred from the cable 42 to a terminal 43 on the outside of the drum by any suitable means, as by slip rings (not shown) mounted on the shaft of the cable drum 44. The terminal 43 is electrically connected by cable 45 to the converter and amplifier I8, which in turn receives power through leads 45. In a like manner, the voltage from the temperature-indicating thermocouple I2 is transmitted up the cable 42, through slip rings (not shown) to terminal 47 and thence to the recorder-controller 35 through cable 48. The output signal from theifcontroller may be transmitted through conduit 49 to regulate the setting of valve 4U in the inlet line 39 to the vessel 38.

Operating current is supplied to the motor 28 through cable 59 containing leads 23-25. The motor 28 (Figure 2) is iixedly mounted adjacent the cable drum 44 and has a worm 5I mounted on its shaft 29 which engages a worm wheel 52 xedly mounted on the drum 44 or shaft thereof. Thus, in this embodiment the thermocouples II, I2 and I3 are raised and lowered within the thermocouple well 39 by regulating the amount of cable 42 that is unwound from the drum 44.

In another embodiment, Figure 3, the thermocouples II, I2 and I3 may be mounted at the end of a lead screw or threaded rod 53 which is coaxially suspended (or supported from the bottom) within the thermometer well 33. yThe leadA screw is mounted within an internally threaded collar 54 which is supported for rotatable motion above (or below) the open end of the thermocouple well 30. In this embodiment, the collar 54 is rotatably mounted between a pair of brackets or supporting arms 55 and 56 which are affixed t-o the casing of the motor 28. A worm wheel 5'I is aixed to the outer surface of the collar 54 and is actuated by the worm 3l mounted on the shaft 29 of the motor 28. The threaded shaft 53 lis preferably hollow to accommodate a cable 58 containing leads I6, I1, 34 and 35 to the thermocouples II, I2 and I 3. Preferably, the threaded shaft is provided with a longitudinal groove or keyway 59 in its outer surface, said keyway being in register with a key (not shown) in either bracket 55 or 55 thereby preventing rotational movement of the shaft 53.

Many chemical reactions are carried out in a fixed-bed catalytic unit wherein the catalyst becomes contaminated or spent after a period of operation. From time to time the catalyst is regenerated; for example, carbonaceous material adhering to the particles of catalyst may be oxidized by blowing air through the bed of catalyst.

Thus, the vessel 38 shown in Figure 2 may be packed with spent catalyst which is regenerated by introducing air into the vessel through the inlet flow line 39. The oxygen in the air oxidized the carbonaceous material from the catalyst and the spent or iiue gas is discharged through the outlet fiow line 4I. In some cases a portion of the spent effluent gas may be recirculated and fed back into the top of the vessel through conduit 39 together with a predetermined amount of air, whereby the amount of oxygen in the inuent ow stream is maintained within xed predetermined limits, say 2 to 4 per cent. The tempera-1 ture of the regeneration reaction within the vessel 38 is governed by the amount of oxygen introduced; the greater the amount of oxygen, the higher the reaction temperature. As previously stated, the maximum reaction temperature is not allowed to exceed a predetermined value in order to prevent destructive overheating of the catalyst.

The catalyst regeneration reaction is nonisothermal, that is, the reaction takes place inl a relatively small zone of said vessel, in which zone the name front or level of maximum reaction temperature is often sharply defined. The regenerated catalyst above the ame front and the spent catalyst below are at substantially lower temperatures. The operating principle of the present apparatus is based upon the fac-t that the maximum regeneration reaction takes place in a limited zone at high temperature flame front that continually moves downward through the bed of catalyst. y

To determi-ne the maximum temperature ofthe ame front, the present thermocouple housing i4 (Figure 2) is positioned at the topoi the thermoeouple well- 36. YSince the upper and lower thermocouples H and I3 are connected in series so as to respondl to temperature differentials, an EJ. M. F. diierential existsl when one thermocouple is at a higher temperature than the other. It both the upper and lower thermocouples II and t3 are positioned above the shifting fiame front when the regeneration starts, upon clos-ing of the main switch 2l4 the motor 28 is energized to actuate the cable drum so that the thermocouples are lowered until they bracket the ii'ame iront.

With the thermocouples. positioned in such a manner, the intermediate thermocouple I2 is positioned opposite or on a level` with the maximum temperature of the shifting iiame front. The voltage generated by this thermocouple I'Z is transmitted to the recorder-controller which may be setto maintain the temperature of the ii'ame frontI at a constant. temperature. Thus, when the temperature increases, the output signal from regenerated the flame irontA moves downward l through the bed. In moving downward it moves away from thermocouplie I I and toward thermocouple i3 thereby setting up an E. M. E'. differential that. is transmitted up cable 42' and through cable 45 to the converter-amplifier i8. The output` from the converter-ampiiier i8 drives the reversible motor 218- at a speedand in a direction dependent upon the magnitude and direction of the differential M'. F. between the' positioning thermocouples II and I3. Thus,` the motor 28 rotates the drum 44 until the thermocouples II` and I3 are again positioned substantially equidistant on either side of the flame front and are at the, same temperature.. It is evident that the spacing between'y the upper andlower thermocouples II and I3 is dependent uncutland should be greaterthan the size (of theshifting zone of maximum reaction temperature within the re,- action vessel 3S in order to effectively bracket said zone. Y

If desired, the presen-t apparatus may be provided with amanually-operated single-pole double-throw switch 69 (Figure 1) by means of which an operator may move the thermocouples II, I2 and I3 in either direction at will by shunting out one or the other of the positioning thermocouples II or I3. On the closing of switch 6D, the motor 28 is energized to move the thermocouple housing I4 in the direction of the thermocouple remaining in the circuit. In this manner an operator can move the thermocouples II, I2 and I3 through the entire height of the reactor at will, at the same time observing the temperature of the measuring thermocouple I2 and placing it on or near whichever hot peak it is desired to measure or control. Thus, in the event that there is more than one peak or zone of maximum temperature within the vessel, the operator may manualls7 operate the apparatus to place the positioning thermocouples II and I3 d onf either side of' said peak. Once placed there, the switch 60 is opened and the thermocouples follow the peak automatically.

While the present apparatus has been described asl beingutilized to follow a shifting hot front or temperature peak of an exothermic reaction, it is evident that the positioning thermocouples- H' and F3 are adapted to follow and control the temperature of a shifting temperature valley which is present at the zone of maxi-mum reaction an endothermic reaction. Thu-s, since the optimum reaction takes place with the greatest absorption of heat, this lower temperature of the shifting reaction zone is sufficient to setup a temperature dierential which wouid cause the movement of the positioning thermocouples. While the reaction temperature of theV endothermie reaction zone is less than that of the componentsy added to the reaction, there is an optimum reaction temperature at which the reaction is normally carried out, since at a lower reaction temperature the components to the reaction rnay not react and at a higher temperature there may be a reversal of the reaction. Thuathe present apparatus may be used Yto follow the optimum reaction temperature of an endothermio reaction in a manner similar to that in an exothermic reaction, and by means of the recorder-controller 35 control the rate of flow of the reaction components into the vessel 3S or the temperature of the components before they enter the vessel.

It is to be noted that the one-dimensionall arrangement descrbed above may also be adapted to determine or control the hottest point in va twoor three-dimensional system. For example, it may be desirable to determine or control the temperature of the hottest point in a large vat containing a fermenting mash, or any thick', viscous material. Assuming that the mass is not agitated and that there is a denite temperature gradient in the mass, the present thermocouple carrierv adapted to move in three dimensions will seek the hottest point in the mass.

A three-dimensional system will be briey outlined with regard to diagrammatic Figures 4 and 5, wherein a thermocouple carrier 'I6 may be mounted on the lower end of a lead screw 'Ilv which, through suitable gearing '12, is driven by a reversible motor I3 to raise and lower the carrier liel in a manner identical with that described in regard to- Figure 3. The motor 13 is xedly secured to a plate member 'Hi which is mounted for horizontal movement on a platform all comprising a pair of tracks 'i5 and TIIi, secured by end members I1 and 'I8 and a geared track I9 parallel to said tracks 'I5 and 16. The platform 8l) in turn is mounted for horizontal movement along a pair of tracks 8l and 82 and a geared track 83, the tracks 8l and 82 being affixed at right angles to the platform tracks 'I5 and 'I6 on top of plate S4 of a reaction vessel 85.

A pair of reversible motors 8S and 81 are mounted on the plate member 14 and are suitably geared (as diagrammatically represented at 88, 89 and 9i!) to the geared tracks 'I9 and 83, respectively. Motor 3S drives the plate member 'M on wheels 9I along tracks 'I5 and 16, and motor 8l drives the platform 89 on wheels 92 along tracks 8| and 32.

As shown in Figure 8, the therinocouple carrier 'F9 has seven thermocouples 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99 mounted thereon, six of them being arranged as at the six corners of a regular octahedron While the seventh is placed substantially at the center of the group. Each pair of thermocouples is connected to one of the reversible motors through suitable leads; thermocouples 93 and 94 being connected to motor 13, thermocouples 95 and 96 to motor 86 and thermocouples 91 and 98 to motor 81. Each motor may be connected to its pair of thermocouples in a manner similar to that described with regard to Figure l. It may be seen that with the thermocouples mounted in the above-described manner, the thermocouple carrier 10 will continue to hunt throughout the vessel until the hot spot is bracketed. At such a time, the temperaturemeasuring thermocouple 99 will be positioned substantially in the center of the hot spot It may be readily understood that a two-dimensional temperature-sensing system may be operated by employing a thermocouple carrier |00, shown in Figure 7, having two pairs of thermocouples IGI and 102, |03 and 104 grouped around a common temperature-measuring thermocouple |05. Each pair of thermocouples would be connected in series opposition to an independent reversible motor, as previously described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A system for continously measuring the temperature of an optimum reaction region shifting within a reaction zone, comprising a carrier positioned within said zone, rst electrical temperature-sensing means supported by said carrier, second temperature-sensing means arranged on said carrier on either side of said iirst temperature-sensing means along at least two straight lines normal to each other which intersect at said rst temperature-sensing means, temperature indicating means connected to the output of said iirst temperature-sensing means, reversible prime-mover means, means responsive to the output of said second temperature-sensing means differentially connecting the output of said second temperature-sensing means to said prime-mover means, for causing the prime-mover means to move the temperature-sensing means toward the optimum reaction region, and actuating linkage means connected between said carrier and said prime-mover means.

2. A system for continuously measuring the temperature of an optimum reaction region shifting within a reaction zone, comprising a carrier mounted for movement within said zone, rst electrical temperature-sensing means supported by said carrier, second and third electrical temperature-sensing arranged on said carrier on either side of said iirst temperature-sensing means along three straight lines each normal to the others which intersect at said first temperature-sensing means, temperature indicating means connected to the output of said first temperature-sensing means, a reversible electric motor, means differentially connecting the outputs of said second and third temperature-sensing means to said motor, and actuating linkage means connected between said carrier and said motor for moving said temperature-sensing means in any direction Within said reaction zone, whereby said carrier is moved by said motor and said linkage means in the direction of a shift of said-optimum reaction region in response to a change in the output diierential from -said second and third temperature-sensing means caused by said shift.

3. A system for continuously measuring the Y temperature of a predetermined reaction zone shifting within a reaction space, comprising a carrier positioned within said space, rst thermocouple means supported by said carrier centrally thereof, three pairs of thermocouples supported by said carrier, one of the thermocouples of each pair being arranged on either side of said first thermocouple means in iiXed spaced relationship therewith along a straight line, the three straight lines along which the thermocouple pairs are positioned intersecting at right angles to each other at said rst thermocouple means, the spacing between each pair of thermocouples being greater than that between the boundaries of said reaction zone, temperature indicating means connected to the output ofr said rst thermocouple means, three reversible electric motors, means responsive to the output of said pairs of thermocouples diierentially connecting the outputs of said three pairs of thermocouples to said motors to energize said motors, and actuating linkage means connected between said carrier and said motors for moving said carrier in any desired direction Within said space in response to a change in the output differential from any of said pairs of thermocouples caused by a shift of said predetermined reaction zone Within said space.

RICHARD G. WALTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

